OnPay vs Xero: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of OnPay and Xero — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: OnPay wins on our scorecard (8.1/10 vs 7.1/10).
| Scored on | OnPay | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 7 | 7 |
| Fees & pricing | 9 | 7 |
| Customer support | 7 | 5 |
| Features | 8 | 8 |
| Base Monthly Fee | $40.00 | — |
| Per Employee Fee | $6.00 | — |
| Setup Fee | $0.00 | — |
| Year-end W-2/1099s | Included | — |
| Early Plan | — | $15/mo |
| Growing Plan | — | $42/mo |
| Established Plan | — | $78/mo |
| Gusto Payroll Add-on | — | Varies |
OnPay in one paragraph
OnPay is the best value-for-money payroll provider for U.S. small businesses that want flat, predictable pricing and full-service tax compliance.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need to pay international contractors or require a native mobile app to run payroll from your phone.
Xero in one paragraph
Xero is a powerful, sleek alternative to QuickBooks that excels for businesses with international needs, provided you don't mind the lack of phone support.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need to call a human being on the phone whenever you have a software question.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, OnPay or Xero?
On our five-axis scorecard, OnPay scores higher (8.1/10 vs 7.1/10). OnPay is the best value-for-money payroll provider for U.S. small businesses that want flat, predictable pricing and full-service tax compliance.
Who should skip OnPay?
Skip it if you need to pay international contractors or require a native mobile app to run payroll from your phone.
Who should skip Xero?
Skip it if you need to call a human being on the phone whenever you have a software question.